Color printing apparatus



June 4, 1957 B. HILLMAN COLOR PRINTING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1955 I VEN TOR.

HIL AN daz f ArraAA/EY 'F'IEl BENJAMIN W June 4, 1957 B. HILLMAN COLOR PRINTING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 23, 1955 FIBZ INVENTOR. EA-WJAMIN HILLMAN /MZM June 4, 1957 B. HILLMAN 2,794,415

COLOR PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1955 3 Shets-Sheet 3 .FfiV//////////// L w X y I INVENTOR. B'NJAM/N H ILLMAN lay/W 14 Tron/v: Y

United States Patentj CULUR PRINTING APPARATUS Benjamin Hillman, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 23, 1955, Serial No. 433,905

Claims. (Cl. 1183) This invention relates to color printing, and more particularly to means for simultaneously fusing various liquid materials to assorted surfaces.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved multi-color press apparatus for simultaneously applying various colored liquids to the surface of an article to be ornamented, said apparatus being simple in construction, being reliable in operation, and being arranged so that a large number of difierent colored liquids may be simultaneously applied to selected areas of the article.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved multi-color press apparatus arranged to simultaneously imprint an article with different colored liquids at different selected areas of the article, said apparatus being arranged so that a large number of colored liquids may be simultaneously applied to the article, the liquids being applied automatically as the press plate of the apparatus engages said article.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved multi-color press apparatus of the type having a press plate formed with respective recesses in its bottom surface arranged to receive respective different colored liquids under pressure, said liquids being applied to areas of an article located at said recesses when the press plate is brought into contact with the article, the apparatus being provided with novel and improved means for regulating the release of the liquids and for automatically and simultaneously releasing said liquids when the press plate actually engages the article, whereby the colored patterns or impressions corresponding to the recesses in the press plate may be rapidly and efliciently applied to the article, the release means being arranged so that substantially no parts thereof come into contact with the liquids, whereby the apparatus is easy to maintain in a clean and operative condition at all times, said release means being readily adjustable in accordance with the degree of sensitivity required.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the acompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in vertical cross-section and partly schematic, of an improved multicolor press apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssectional view taken through a portion of the press plate of a modified multi-color press apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, 11 generally designates a press compris- 2,794,415 Patented June 4, 1957 'ice ing a bed 12 supported on a suitable frame including the supporting legs 13. Designated at 14 is a die plate which is supported at its corner portions on respective vertical 'rods 15 extending slidably through the bed The top portions of rods 15 are reduced in diameter to define shoulders 17, the reduced portions extending through apertures in the die plate and being threaded to receive clamping nuts 16, whereby the die plate is clamped against said shoulders. Respective coiled springs 18 surround the upper portions of rods 15, said springs being disposed between the bed 12 and die plate 14, as shown. Springs 18 act to bias die plate 14 to a normal elevated position, as shown in Figure 1, located a substantial distance above bed 12.

The lower ends of the rods 15 extend through a horizontal plate member 19, said lower ends being provided with heads 20 beneath plate 19, whereby plate 19 may at times transmit downward 'force to the rods. Plate 19 is centrally secured to the piston rod 21 of the piston of a vertical hydraulic cylinder 22 secured to the underside of bed 12. Cylinder 22 is connected in a conventional manner to a suitable hydraulic fluid pressure means, as by conduits 23 and 24, through a manual rehydraulic fluid under pressure to the top portion of cylinder 22, for example, through conduit 23, fluid being discharged from below the piston of the cylinder through conduit 24 to the fluid reservoir as the piston is forced downwardly. By rotating the handle 23 in the opposite direction, hydraulic fluid under pressure is admitted into the lower portion of the cylinder and the upper portion thereof is allowed to exhaust.

Mounted on bed 12 is a supporting and positioning block 29 for receiving the articles to be printed or ornamented, such as cards, or other similar flat articles.

Block 29 is provided on three sides thereof with adjustable vertical stop plates 39 which may be adjusted to define a snugly fitting enclosure to receive the cards or other flat articles to be printed, and to position said articles so that proper registry of the printed areas thereof will be obtained.

Secured'to the underside of die plate 14 is a'press'plate 31 which overlies and is shaped to descend into the enclosure defined by the stop plates 30. Press plate 31 is formed on its bottom surface with respective shaped recesses 32 adapted to receive coating liquid when the press plate is engaged with the flat article to be printed, as will be presently explained, whereby the coating liquid will be applied to and will become fused to the areas of the fiat article located opposite to and corresponding to the respective recesses 32.

Extending through and secured to press plate 31 and die plate 14 over each recess 32 is a vertical valve cylinder 33, each cylinder having a bottom aperture 34 communicating with its associated recess and having a conical valve seat adjacent said aperture which normally sealingly receives a conical valve element 35.

Each valve element 35 is secured to the lower end of a vertical valve rod 36 which extends slidably and sealingly through the top wall of the associated valve cylinder.

Die plate 14 and press plate 31 are formed with registering bores at an unrecessed portion of press plate 31 overlying the enclosure defined by stop plates 30, for ex ample, at the central portion of said enclosure, through which slidably extends a feeler rod 37. Adjustably ,secured on the upper portion of feeler rod 37 is a relatively large plate element 38, such as a large washer, defining a horizontally extending flange on said top portion of the feeler rod. As shown, the top portion of the feeler rod may be threaded and a stop nut 39 may be engaged on the rod below washer 38, whereas a clamping nut 40 may be engaged on the rod above the washer. Thus, rod 37 maybe readily adjusted vertically relative to plates 14 and 31, whereas washer 38 remains at a constant dis tance above plate 14.

Pivoted to upstanding supports 41 secured on plate 14 and spaced around feeler rod 37 are respective levers' 42 whose inner end portions overly the flange element 38. As will be apparent from Figure 2, the levers 42 are directed toward the respective valve rods 36. Additional upstanding supports-43 are provided on plate 14 between the respective valve rods 36 and the levers 42. Respective levers 44 are pivoted at their intermediate portions Ito the supports 43, the inner ends of the respective levers 44 being slidably and pivotally connected to the outer ends of the respective levers 42 and the outer ends of the levers 44 being slidably and pivotally connected to the top ends of the respective valve rods 36. Respective coiled springs 45 connect the outer end portions of levers 44 to die plate 14, biasing the valve elements 35 into sealing engagement with their seats.

As will be readily apparent, when flange element 38 rises relative to plate 14, as occurs when the bottom end of feeler element 37 engages a fiat object being printed, the

' inner end portions of levers 42 rotate upwardly, causing the outer end portions of levers 44 to be rotated upwardly,

whereby the valve elements 35 are simultaneously lifted off their seats, and whereby the respective coating liquids in the respective valve cylinders 33 are simultaneously admitted into their associated recesses 32 and are simultaneou'sly brought into contact with the surfaces of the 'flat object to becoated. This action occurs when the 'die plate 14 and press plate 31 are moved downwardly by the downward stroke of piston rod 21. On the upward return movement of plate 19, feeler rod 37 is lifted out of contact with the flat object, allowing valve elements 35 to engage their seats, whereby the associated valves are simultaneously closed.

Designated at 46 is a pressure kettle which is mounted in any suitable manner adjacent the press 11, said kettle being connected by a conduit 47 to a source of compressed air, not shown. Mounted in kettle 46 are respective containers 48 in which the respective different colored coating liquids 49 are contained. Each container has a conical top cover 50 provided with a central aperture 51,

whereby the liquids are simultaneously subjected to the air pressure inside the kettle 46. The containers 48 are connected to the upper portions of the respective valve cylinders by flexible conduits 52.

to, simultaneously fill their associated recesses 32. After the liquids become fused to the surface of the article, the

press plate31 and die plate 14 are elevated, whereby feeler rod 37 disengages from the article, allowing the .valve elements 35 to reseat, and simultaneously. cutting oi the flow of the liquids through apertures 34.'

Since the feeler rod 37 is independent of the recesses 32, the feeler rod performs its function without ever coming into contact with the liquids 49 and cannot become jammed or clogged by dried liquid. Furthermore,

only asingle adjustment of feeler rod 37 is required to adjust the opening and closing of all the valve elements 35 for different types of coating liquid, difierent sur- 7 printing recesses 32, and is shown in the drawings as I circular only by way of example.

The mechanism which transfers the movement of the flange element 38 to the valve rods 36 may take various different forms. Thus, for example, as shown in Figure 5, levers 42 may be pivoted to the top portions of upstanding supports 41' threaded into the plate 14. Levers 42', in Figure 5, have relatively short arm portions 53 overlying the marginal portion of flange element 38 and have relatively long arm portions 54 extending toward the respective valve cylinders 33'. Each valve cylinder 33' is provided with an upstanding, inwardly offset bracket arm 55 in the same vertical plane as its associated lever 42'. A lever 44' is pivoted at 56 to the top end of each arm 55, the outer end of the lever 44 being slidably and pivotally. connected to the top end of the associated valve rod 36, and the inner end of the lever 44 being slidably and pivotally connected to the intermediate portion of the long arm 54 of associated lever 42'. A coiled spring 45 connects the inner portion of each lever 44' to the subjacent outer end of the associated lever 42', whereby spring 45' biases the associatedvalve element towards its sealing position on its seat. When flange element 38 is elevated relative to plate 14, the inner arm portions 53 of levers 42' are simultaneously rotated upwardly, causing the outer end portions of the levers 44' to be rotated upwardly, whereby the valve elements 35 are simultaneously lifted off their seats.

While certain specific embodiments of a multi-color press apparatus have been disclosed in the foregoing de scription, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by th scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for applying coating liquids simultaneously to different areas on the face of a flat article disposed below and engaged by the device, comprising a press plate having respective recesses in its bottom surface adapted to receive coating liquid, respective normally closed valves mounted on the press plate and communi eating with said recesses, respective liquid containers connected to the valves, a feeler element slidably mounted in the press plate, said feeler element having a feeler portion normally projecting below the press plate and a flange portion above the plate, respective levers pivoted on said press plate and having portions thereof engaging said flange portion, and means connecting said levers to the respective valves, said last-named means being arranged to simultaneously open all the valves responsive to the movement of the levers when said feeler portion engages a flat article as the press plate is moved into engagement with said article.

2. A device for applying coating liquids simultaneously to different areas on the face of a flat article disposed below and engaged by the device, comprising a press plate having a flat bottom surface formed'with recessed areas adapted to receive coating liquid, respective normally closed valves mounted on the press plate and communicating with the respective recessed areas, respective liquid containers connected to the respective valves, a movable feeler element slidably-mounted in an unrecessed portion of said press plate and projecting from the fiat bottom surface thereof, said feeler element being located to engage a flat article as the press plate is moved into engagement with such article, respective levers pivoted on said press plate and having portions thereof engaging said feeler element, and means operatively connecting said levers to the respective valves and being formed and arranged to simultaneously open said valves responsive to the movement of the levers in response to the engagement of said feeler element with the flat article.

3. A device for applying coating liquids simultaneously to different areas on the face of a flat article disposed below and engaged by the device, comprising a press plate having respective recesses in its bottom surface adapted to receive coating liquid, respective upstanding valve chambers mounted on the press plate in communication with said recesses, each valve chamber having a bottom valve seat and being provided with a vertically movable valve element normally sealingly engaging said valve seat, respective liquid containers connected to the respective valve chambers, a vertically movable feeler element slidably mounted in the press plate and normally projecting therebelow for engagement with a flat article as the press plate is moved into engagement therewith, flange means on the top portion of said feeler element, respective levers pivoted on said press plate and having end portions overlying said flange means, respective additional levers pivoted to the press plate and connected to said vertically movable valve elements, and means operatively connecting the last-named levers to the firstnamed levers.

4. A device for applying coating liquids simultaneously to different areas on the face of a flat article, comprising a horizontal support adapted to receive said flat article, a horizontal press plate arranged over said support and provided with respective recesses in its bottom surface adapted to receive coating liquid, means for moving said press plate downwardly toward said support to bring said press plate into contact with a flat article thereon, respective normally closed valves on said press plate at the recesses thereof, a fountain kettle, respective liquid containers in said fountain kettle, said fountain kettle containing compressed air and the containers being exposed to the compressed air in the kettle, respective conduits connecting said containers to said valves, said valves being arranged to admit liquid under pressure to the recesses responsive to the opening of the valves, a feeler element movably mounted in said press plate, said feeler element normally projecting downwardly from said press plate and being movable responsive to the engagement of said press plate'with a flat article, a horizontal flange on the upper portion of said feeler element arranged above said press plate, respective levers pivoted to said press plate and overlying said flange, and means connecting said levers to the valves and being arranged to simultaneously open said valves responsive to rotation of said levers by said flange, whereby the valves will be simultaneously opened when said press plate engages a flat article.

5. A device for applying coating liquids simultaneously to difierent areas on the face of a fiat article, comprising a horizontal support adapted to receive said fiat article, a horizontal press plate arranged over said support and provided with respective recesses in its bottom surface adapted to receive coating liquid, means for moving said press plate downwardly toward said support to bring said press plate into contact with a flat article thereon, respective normally closed valves on said press plate at the recesses thereof, a fountain kettle containing compressed air, respective liquid containers in said fountain kettle exposed to the compressed air in the kettle, respective conduits connecting said containers to said valves, said valves being arranged to admit liquid under pressure to the recesses responsive to the opening of the valves, a feeler element movably mounted in said press plate, said feeler element normally projecting downwardly from said press plate and being movable responsive to the engagement of said press plate with a flat article, a horizontal flange on the upper portion of said feeler element arranged above said press plate, respective levers pivoted to said press plate and overlying said flange, respective additional levers pivoted to said press plate and connected to said valves, and means interconnecting the first-named and second-named levers and being arranged to cause said second-named levers to simultaneously open the valves responsive to the movement of said flange upwardly relative to the press plate as the feeler element engages the flat article.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,302,096 Battey Nov. 17, 1942 

